Catalytic converter for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The catalytic converter for vehicles uses lithium oxide as a catalyst metal that in the presence of alkaline solution, such as urea solution (Adblue™), and an activated carbon disc filter prevents environmentally harmful exhaust emission of vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to emission control devices for motorvehicles, and particularly to a catalytic converter for vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicular exhaust gas treatment systems are used to treat the exhaustgas from an engine of the vehicle. The exhaust gas emitted from a dieselengine is a heterogeneous mixture that contains gaseous emissions, suchas carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides ofnitrogen (NO_(x)), as well as condensed phase materials (liquids andsolids) that constitute particulate matter. Catalyst compositions,typically disposed on catalyst supports or substrates that are disposedwithin the exhaust gas treatment system, are provided to convert certainor all of these exhaust gas constituents into environmentally safe gascomponents. For example, diesel exhaust gas treatment systems mayinclude one or more of a precious metal-containing diesel oxidationcatalyst (DOC) converter for the reduction of CO and excess HC, aselective catalytic reduction (SCR) device for the reduction of NO_(x)with the assistance of a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and a dieselparticulate filter (DPF) device for the removal of particulate matter.When periodic regeneration (or soot oxidation) is required, the DOC willoxidize injected diesel fuel, i.e. hydrocarbons, to generate anexothermic reaction to burn off the accumulated soot inside the DPF. Theexhaust system requires a hydrocarbon mixer upstream of the DOC and aDEF mixer upstream of the SCR to provide more uniform reductantdistribution of the hydrocarbons and the DEF, respectively, foreffective DOC and SCR operations. Thus, a catalytic converter forvehicles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The catalytic converter for vehicles comprises lithium oxide as acatalyst metal that in the presence of alkaline solution, such as ureasolution (Adblue™) and at least one activated carbon disc filter,prevents harmful exhaust emissions of vehicles. In the catalyticconverter all dangerous air pollutants, (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO),nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)), and hydrocarbons (HC)) will be converted intonon-dangerous pollutants (carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), andwater) in the presence of catalytic metal (lithium oxide) and alkalinesolution (Adblue™). The by-products react with alkaline solution to formcarbonate residues, which are adsorbed on the activated carbon filterand are easily removed by water washing. The present catalytic converterprevents all environmentally harmful vehicle exhaust gases andby-products from being emitted into the ambient air.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The sole drawing FIGURE is a schematic diagram of the catalyticconverter according to the present invention, shown with the housingbroken away to show details thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present catalytic converter for vehicles has a main body made fromstainless steel. It contains at least one activated carbon filter discto prevent vehicle exhaust emissions. In the catalytic converter,lithium oxide is used as a catalyst metal that in the presence ofalkaline solution, such as urea solution (AdblueT™, which is an aqueoussolution containing 32.5% high-purity urea and 67.5% deionized water,commonly known as diesel exhaust fluid), converts all dangerous airpollutants, (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)), andhydrocarbons (HC)) into non-dangerous pollutants (i.e. carbon dioxide(CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), and water). The by-products react with alkalinesolution to form carbonate residues, which are adsorbed on the activatedcarbon filter and are easily removed by water washing. The presentcatalytic converter prevents all environmentally harmful vehicle exhaustgases and by-products from being emitted into the ambient air.

Referring to the Figure, a catalytic converter is generally shown at100. The catalytic converter 100 includes an activated carbon disc 10.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A catalytic converter for vehicles, comprising: a housinghaving an inlet pipe adapted for connection to a motor vehicle exhaustand an outlet pipe; a catalyst for converting environmentally harmfulcomponents of motor vehicle exhaust gases into environmentally safecompounds, the catalyst being lithium oxide; and at least one activatedcarbon filter disc for absorbing and adsorbing at least some of theenvironmentally safe compounds.
 2. The catalytic converter for vehiclesaccording to claim 1, wherein the environmentally harmful componentsinclude carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)), and hydrocarbons(HC), the environmentally harmful components being converted intoenvironmentally safe compounds in the presence of the lithium oxidecatalyst and alkaline solution.
 3. The catalytic converter for vehiclesaccording to claim 1, wherein said housing is made from stainless steel.4. The catalytic converter according to claim 1, further comprisingalkaline solution in the housing, the environmentally safe compoundsincluding carbonate residues, the carbonate residues being adsorbed onsaid activated carbon filter disc.